All American: Winter Break

Epilogue: Six Feet Under

Senior year wasn't supposed to go like this...he moved back to Crenshaw....got named an All American...and he got the girl. For the first time in his life, everything seemed to be going right. He was finally able to see the light at the end of the very dark tunnel.

The tunnel seemed daunting and never-ending. The tunnel trapped him with no sense of direction on which way to turn. And without warning, the dust settled, and the light shined through. That tunnel didn't seem so dark leaving him with hope for a brighter future.

But just as fast as the good came, the worst came with it. And the storms they were supposed to weather together, turned into hurricanes. Leaving them with nothing but a heavy heart and shattered dreams. But maybe people like them weren't supposed to have it all.

Maybe they weren't destined for greatness after all. Maybe they've hit their peak and are now waiting for their downfall. The scars they've had from the battles they've fought, and the wars they've lost will always remind them of what they've overcome. How hard they had to trench through the mud to get to where they are now.

But life for them had never been easy. Life has never been that simple. They've gone through hardships before the age of ten that would break most people...and somehow they are still here. They are still standing. They are still alive.

Some of them aren't that lucky to get to see another day. As some of them lay six feet below them. Their brothers, sisters, and friends they grew up with were lost in a city they called home and taken from them far too soon.

Wrapped up in the life that seemed too good to be true. The life that took the people they love, people they grew up with, and the people they called family. He wished he could've had it all, and the dreams they set out to accomplish, would be easier than this.

But life as they know it will never be the same. Because life, where they grew up, will never be as simple as it was made out to be. Life will never be how they dreamed it would be, how it was written in the stars because nothing is ever set in stone. The dreams he once had vanished the second he received a call that late December evening.

That same evening he was told the girl he loved wasn't going to make it. The girl he called family was leaving him. The girl that had been there through the highs and lows with him would now only live on through the memories they've made. That same evening his world crumbled around him. And in that very moment, he knew life would never be the same.

The roaring of the rolling thunderous clouds shook the floor beneath him. The dark grey clouds covered the sky as they weighed heavy above him. A visual of how'd he had been feeling.

The world was quiet as an eerie feeling washed over him, and the crows sang above him. The fog rolled in the distance as a cold shiver ran down his spine. Pulling his coat tighter against his body he could feel the teardrops from the sky splash his cheeks, hiding his own, which was already making its way to the surface, and trickling down his face.

Quickly wiping it away, he could feel a heavyweight on his arm squeeze him tighter. Soothing him, with every stroke they made, making its way up and down his arm. Turning to meet her heavy gaze. He could feel the weight of them, which only made his heart sink deeper into the pit of his stomach. Pulling her mouth to the side, the both of them found comfort in their stare. A sense of not being alone. And the only thing that had kept him going in the past few days.

Her own eyes watered seeing the hurt in his, and the distant gaze that she'd feared was only the beginning. Resting her head on his shoulder, she held him tighter while the sniffles from the crowd brought him back to his reality. But rather a nightmare he'd been living wishing and hoping this was just another dream he'd wake up from. The thunder shook the ground and with the strike of lightning just seconds later, the teardrops from the sky started to fall harder, as the umbrellas opened in sync, and the rain poured on the mourning souls that gathered around.

"Today we are gathered here to celebrate a life that was loved, and a life that was taken from us far too soon. She had so many more dreams to accomplish in this life. She had so much more to live. And in many ways, her life was just getting started. But death does not wait for us as it comes knocking even before our time. Although she is no longer here on earth with us. Her spirit will live in all of us. No matter where life may take you she will always be with you. She would want you to love and live a full life for her. Mourn for her loss, but also celebrate the good, and the memories you both cherished because that is what will keep her alive and never be forgotten..." The older gentlemen dressed in black spoke. He held a booklet in his hand as he read from it only looking up every so often. The crowd of sniffles was brought with cries as his words deepened and ached within each and everyone that stood watching as the loved one they once knew was no longer here.

Spencer could feel the emptiness in his heart, lowering his eyes, he fixated on the white rose that he held in his hand. Shaking his head the tears the trickled down his cheek fell onto the rose. His mind raced to all the memories they shared and all the laughs that he relived at that moment. And for that split second in time, the sun shined through the clouds giving him a glimmer of hope in the dark days that were ahead of him. The storm he was walking through, now alone.

Senior year wasn't supposed to be like this. It was supposed to be the greatest year yet. He had it all planned out. He was supposed to save his school, win state championship, become an All-American, and get the girl. Everything seemed to be falling into place. His life was finally starting to turn around. He could see the light that seemed nonexistent in that very dark tunnel.

But the light he saw just days ago was now gone. He'd felt trapped while the walls were caving in, leaving him in complete darkness once again. Senior year was supposed to be a year he would remember for the memories he would never forget. This held true as they were now overshadowed by the grief and because of that late December evening, he lost a piece of him too.

The sudden weight of a familiar hand on his shoulder shook him out of his thoughts as he turned to see Olivia standing beside him giving him the smallest of smiles. The sounds of the hospital machines beeped in a constant rhythm. After the last few days, it brought him peace and a glimmer of hope in that very dark tunnel he was trapped in. Olivia's warm smile weighed him down. She tilted her head rubbing his arm.

"Let's go home baby. Our shift is over, and your mom is taking over,". Spencer didn't want to move. He wanted to stay and be here just in case things went south. The last 48 hours had been touch and go and he was worried if he'd left, he would come back to an empty room. "I'm good Liv,". Spencer softly spoke watching the monitors, sitting in a chair beside the bed. Olivia guided her hand, interlacing in his. "Baby, your mom will be here. Let's at least go get some coffee. You haven't eaten since-" Olivia trailed. She immediately stopped herself from continuing.

A soft knock came from the door of the hospital room when his mother's voice was heard moving from Olivia's eyes to meet his mother's. His mother cleared her throat keeping his attention on her. Crossing her arms, she leaned against the door. "Olivia's right Spencer. You need rest,". Spencer deeply sighed knowing his mother and girlfriend had been right. He wreaked of day-old deodorant and sweat from the stress he'd been through. His mouth felt as if it'd been filled with cotton from how dehydrated he'd been, and his stomach ached from how empty it'd felt.

"Coop would have wanted you to take care of yourself. Go shower, rest, and eat baby. Please don't forget to eat. You can come back later. And if anything changes I'll make sure to give Olivia a call,". His mother spoke making Spencer get out of the chair he'd been sitting in for far too long. Spencer groaned in disagreement but knowing his mother she wouldn't take no for an answer.

Getting up he walked over to the bed where his best friend laid unconscious. Hooked up to machines that helped her breathe, and gave her medicine to minimize the pain she'd been in. Her eyes were purple and puffy, and she'd been wrapped in bandages. Her breathing was shallow but even then Spencer breathed a little lighter knowing the hard part had been over. "I'll be back in a bit Coop,". Spencer wrapped his hand in hers. She was warm to the touch but never squeezed his hand as she would usually do. Her high energy that would fill the room was now more of a heavy silence.

Giving her one last squeeze, Spencer walked over to where Olivia stood as she and him now walked out of the room and towards the exit. His shoulders eased at the thought of seeing Coop breathing. Taking a deep breath in before exhaling all Spencer could think about was that Coop was alive and for now that is all that mattered.